Cigarette Filter Dry Strength Wet Disintegration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cigarette filters face a challenge in achieving both sufficient mechanical strength in a dry state and rapid disintegration in a wet state, as existing solutions fail to balance these properties effectively, leading to inadequate disintegration rates when exposed to water.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specified small amount of an alkali metal salt of a water-soluble anionic polymer, such as polyacrylic acid or carboxymethyl cellulose, into cellulose ester staple fibers and pulp, which enhances dry-state strength while ensuring rapid disintegration in a wet state by preventing cornification through hydrogen bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a water-soluble polymer is added to improve filter strength, then the strength of the filter increases, but the disintegration rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the binder by using alkali metal salts of carboxymethyl cellulose with specific degree of substitution (0.3-1.5) and specific alkali metal content (0.1-10% by weight). This parameter optimization allows the binder to provide sufficient dry strength while maintaining water solubility for rapid disintegration, resolving the contradiction between strength and disintegration rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of cellulose ester staple fibers, pulp, and alkali metal salts of carboxymethyl cellulose binder. This composite structure combines the strength-providing cellulose fibers with the water-soluble binder, achieving both high dry strength and rapid wet disintegration properties that neither component could achieve alone
2Strength
If the amount of binder is increased to enhance strength, then the mechanical strength improves, but the disintegration time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the binder content parameter at 0.1-10% by weight (preferably 0.5-5%) and optimizes the degree of substitution of carboxymethyl cellulose (0.3-1.5). These parameter changes ensure that sufficient binder is present to provide mechanical strength while maintaining the water solubility necessary for rapid disintegration, preventing excessive disintegration time
Solution Approach 2:
The alkali metal salts of carboxymethyl cellulose act as an intermediary binder that mediates between the cellulose ester fibers and pulp. This intermediary provides strong bonding in dry state for mechanical strength while being readily soluble in water to enable rapid disintegration, bridging the gap between strength and disintegration requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for a cigarette filter that maintains mechanical strength in a dry state while disintegrating quickly in a wet state, effectively addressing the balance between strength and disintegration, as demonstrated by the improved disintegratability and tensile strength in the examples provided.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring rapid disintegration in a wet state by preventing cornification through hydrogen bonding
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a specified small amount of an alkali metal salt of a water-soluble anionic polymer, such as polyacrylic acid or carboxymethyl cellulose
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a cigarette filter that can achieve both strength in a dry state and disintegration in a wet state. [Solution] This cigarette filter comprises a filter plug containing a cellulose ester staple fiber, a pulp, and an alkali metal salt of a water-soluble anionic polymer. The filter plug has an alkali metal content of 2 to 100 µmol per gram of the filter plug. The water-soluble anionic polymer may comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylic acid and a polysaccharide having a carboxyl group.